Roxymama's 5k to Marathon, RunDisney & beyond!

Stealing a page from @Keels (ok, maybe not stealing..how about being inspired by) I have set myself a challenge for 2015/2016 but for 5k's. I call it my New Spring Resolution since I am well past the point of it being the New Year.

I started dipping my toes into running in Feb/March this year because of this board. I can't count how many Disney running TR's I've stalked over the years. Honestly I get so sappy watching all these people crossing the finish line or even just attempting to. Like more choked up than when I watch the Notebook. I am proud of these strangers and so intensely jealous of how happy they must feel completing these runs. So over the last several weeks I have been doing sporadic long walk/runs outside and then also joined a Planet Fitness close to my house for weeknight treadmill sessions. At the very end of March I entered a 5k in the walker category (yeah I chickened out of getting a timed bib with the runners at the last minute) but started at the very front of the walking group and was so inspired after half a mile that I ended up running right into the running group and finished it running about every three blocks and walking every two. I basically caught the run bug really hard.

My 2015/2016 5k Journey GOALS!
1) Run three times a week. Using my couch to 5k app. By May I should be running 3.1 miles without having to walk a lot. I am not giving myself a pace goal yet...I just want to do it. - ACHIEVED!
2) Sign up for 5ks on a regular basis through Fall. Register as a runner, start with the runners, keep running...don't chicken out! - ACHIEVED!
3) My town has seven 5ks in 2015. If you complete 3 of them, you get a special medal. I technically didn't get a time for my first race, and I have 5 more tries right now. Next one in June. I want that medal! -ACHIEVED!
3) Disney Marathon Weekend 5k 2016! Hotel booked! Flight booked. No getting out of this one. - ACHIEVED!

Updated to include 2016 goals. 2016 starts page 18.
1) Run an 8k - ACHIEVED!
2) Run a 10k - ACHIEVED!
3) Run a 15k - ACHIEVED!
4) Complete Evergreen Park challenge again this year - Not possible, date conflicts
5) PR in 5k - ACHIEVED! 27:49
6) try to run three times a week as much as life allows. Include some cross train to keep life exciting and to make me stronger - ACHIEVED!
7) hydrate better and eat better this year with end-game being at least 10-15 lbs lighter - ACHIEVED...Now to keep it off!

My 2015 Schedule.
Trying to do one a month if possible starting in May!
* indicates if I complete 3, I get a special medal from my park district

March 28: March4Meg 5k Evergreen Park, IL.* Started with walkers/switched to run/walk. Un-timed. My guess was 34-36 minutes. I have phone technology set up now (I was winging this one as a newbie.) I am a very fast walker...but I want to be in shape to RUN!

My run outside Sunday log from my C25k app:
I went 2.40 miles in 30 minutes that included 5 min warmup walk and 5 min cool down walk.
1.55 mil walk distance at 14.12 pace
.85 mil run distance at 9.26 pace

I think I am ready to run more than walk but not yet ready to just run all out. I think a little rain dropping is good motivation and proud I didn't use it as an excuse to head home early. I also am also happy that my town kept the ribbons on the trees up from the 5k last weekend. Used it to run my first 2 miles

Thanks girliea!
I'm into the next week of my C25k program. Running for 90 sec Intervals with 2 min walking in between. It almost feels easier when running on the treadmill than walking. It's annoying constantly decreasing the treadmill speed to walk without falling off. (Running outside is easier for intervals for me so far.). Starting to work up legit sweats. I'm getting used to my routine now and get excited for run days. Trying not to get too ahead of my program so I'm just increasing speed instead. Hardest part is not to watch all the people around me at the gym and feeling competitive or even "less than". I read a good quote today that helped me...don't compare your chapter 1 to someone else's chapter 20. I like that!

I appreciate all cheerleading! Working full time and being a mom and keeping up the house and actually trying to find time to sleep...all the support is much needed!

I love that quote! So were you just in my head b/c during my run yesterday, I was thinking that as my husband who runs with me went ahead of me during our 3rd mile. I think I may need to tattoo that quote on my head!

Life is definitely busy and stressful...it's good that we can be there for each other. Keep up the great work! Your runs are really progressing well!

Thursdays are my normal run night (Tues treadmill, Thur treadmill, Sat/Sun run outside.) But this week has been terribly busy for the hubby while he takes on some new responsibilities. So I gave up my Thursday night run to catch up on chores after the baby went to bed.
I'm writing this here as my statement that I WILL GO THE GYM TONIGHT!!
It's Friday and Friday is usually "Pizza Night in America" per a running joke at my house. So I'll check back in with my treadmill stats later tonight to keep myself honest.
Time to go hydrate.

On a sidenote: I went to Sports Authority a few weeks ago and bought a stack of tech shirts off the clearance rack in my size and they somehow all ended up being similar shades of purple. It often pops in my head that the gym people must think I only have one outfit. Then I remember that the gym people probably don't notice or care. I guess I'm just disneybounding as Rapunzel or Ariel...did I use that term correctly?

Well I ran like I said I would! And I did it outside to boot. Followed my same 5k path from last week but got a little farther in my alloted workout from my C25k app. I really pushed the walking during the cool down because I knew I could just do a normal cool down walk the three blocks I still had left to physically get myself home.
My stats:
5 min warmup walk. 90 sec run/2min walk for 21 min. 5 min cool down.
Went 2.51 miles
Walked 1:54 at 14:14 pace
Ran .98 miles at 9:12 pace

Everything is a PR

My one pet peeve is when I get to a jog section and I'm stuck at an intersection. Murphy's law! Maybe I'll check out the track by us soon.
Also here's my victory pose wearing "real running" clothes. Don't tell anyone they were from the clearance rack

And on Sunday I got some kind of flu bug! It's super annoying when mentally I am in a great place to want to do two days of running outside back to back and then physically my body said "Nope." Yesterday was a challenge eating or drinking anything. I'm feeling so much better today but it's still been a task to want to drink even a full bottle of water (I'm forcing myself to drink and eat, but slowly, so that I don't feel dehydrated.)
Anyone else ever feel like their body let's them down when they had such good mental state about getting something done?

Well, on the positive side...I'm not super sick at the moment and that's what is really important. The weather is beautiful here but I'll table my next run until Thursday night. Maybe do some basement yoga tomorrow to see how I feel about exerting myself. Happy thoughts.

Well my flu has subsided and I'm feeling pretty much back to normal which means I can tie on the running shoes again tomorrow. I'm excited to learn that one of my good friends has started C25k too. Not sure if I inspired her or if it she was already planning on doing it. Either way I'm excited to have a run buddy. We are thinking about signing up for The Original 5k in Chicago in mid June. It's a night time run and seems themed to just having fun. It's also pretty cheap right now.
So now I will add that to my schedule above and that puts me at a 5k on 5/23, 6/11 and 6/27. What have I become?
Well at least I know I don't have to try for a PR when running with my friend...I can do that on one of the other two.

Thanks girliea. I still have to actually do them though!
But I figure if my plan is to run or run/walk 5k of distance in my neighborhood each weekend anyways...I may as well get a little glory to go with it. Plus there's less pressure to run a perfect race when there's another on around the corner, right?

Thanks girliea. I still have to actually do them though!
But I figure if my plan is to run or run/walk 5k of distance in my neighborhood each weekend anyways...I may as well get a little glory to go with it. Plus there's less pressure to run a perfect race when there's another on around the corner, right?

Click to expand...

Very true Roxy! Keep up the good work, your times are awesome! I'm a little jealous...but I'm trying not to compare my first chapter to someone else's 20th chapter-someone wise told me that so it has become my mantra.

I was back to my treadmill last night. Back on my normal schedule. I felt the fatigue set in a little more than usual this time at the end. Realizing I just recovered from the flu, I was not too hard on myself about backing off the "briskness" of my walking at the end. I still managed to run the farthest via treadmill. Did 2.24 miles. My app doesn't break out running vs walking pace when on the treadmill.

I can say that I would have rather ran longer and walked shorter only because I am the world's worst treadmill walker. How I am so much more coordinated while jogging on it? I have no idea what an appropriate walking speed on a treadmill is. I can run up above 5, but a 4 seems so fast to walk. Saturday starts the next level on my C25K plan which is much more jog heavy and I'll be outside too. Looking forward to it.

Thought of the night: I think I need a dedicated gym bag I can just always have my stuff ready to go in. I've been using my normal big everyday bag I take everywhere and I spend too much time throwing my "gym" things into it (lock, earbuds, towel, water bottle, etc etc.) and then the next morning taking it all back out.

I caught the bug run in the beginning of February this year...and it was the best thing I could have done for me for many reasons. It's not only healthy but gives you that feeling only a few things can give...satisfaction, perhaps?

As for me, it was a real blessing for another reason too: a week after I started my running classes, my fiancee broke up with me after 5 years. I was devastated and if I wasn't training at that point I'm sure I would have being dragged into depression. I was sad...I still am sad, but now I have something to dream of....something that depends on me and only me - my first 21k in October!

I'm also going to the WDW marathon weekend, and my goal is to do 3 runs: 5k, 10k and the half. Didn't book resort room yet, but I'll probably be at the Pop Century.

I really admire your strength! I'm sure it isn't easy taking care of your house and family AND keeping up with your running routine! Awesome!

Sure @Pixie Heart !
Thank you for the nice words! I was getting a little down on myself yesterday that I can't seem to get farther than 2.5 miles in the half hour workout. But I keep having to tell myself that in a normal 5k, 10 minutes will not be devoted to 5 min warm-up walk and 5 min cool down walk. So it was a nice pick me up to see your note above.
I think I have it in my head now that maybe I'd like to try to eventually do a 10k or half with Disney as a "next year/next level goal." Maybe a Princess or Tink weekend. I'm still too scared to sign up for the 10k for 2016 marathon weekend. Maybe I can be persuaded by next Tuesday's signup.

Random sidenote thought: The first time I jogged outside I got a "nod" from a fellow jogger coming the opposite way past me on the sidewalk. I nodded back very shyly but felt like a "nod-imposter"...surely I was not a "real runner" yet and not worthy of the "nod."

Well I am happy to report that this weekend I was not only "nodding" at my fellow neighborhood joggers but I was also smiling and waving!!! Even saying "Good Morning!" enthusiastically to people watering their lawns or walking their dogs, etc.

I've decided no one is a "real" or "fake" anything. This sounds silly, but it was a huge mental hurdle for me in many aspects of my life...whether I was worthy of being a certain kind of person. No idea why...all my family and friends are super loving. So gosh-darnit I can be a physically fit person too!!!